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Thursday, March 18, 2010

Well it was such a quiet start to the year that I almost fell into a coma, then all of a sudden everything has gone mad! (typical) I had three outstanding portrait vouchers from 2009 and two have been claimed in the last couple of weeks co-inciding with my long overdue first commission of the year (phew)

Just to complicate things further I have been selected to exhibit four paintings at a very special art exhibition over Easter and at the moment I only have two wildlife paintings suitable for the task.............so its been a case of hunkering down in the studio ignoring the garden and the lovely spring sunshine :-( and painting until my eyes are out on stalks!

I have now completed the commission and one new work for the exhibition, and made the requested alterations to the Alaskan Malamute (fingers crossed the owner will accept it now).

So the next task is a large wildlife painting for the exhibition, I have made a start and will be working like fury all week to get it finished in time for framing and submission.

Pictured above are the finished Malamute portrait and the first of my new wildife paintings the second one has a long way to go before its done but here is a peek at my progress so far

My commissioned portrait will remain under wraps for a few more days until it is no longer a surprise for the recipient

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

I have abandoned the website update for the time being as there have been so many gremlins in the works at the server end, I have also still got "Gunner" on a back burner waiting for his owner to enlighten me about the alterations she wants....................................so I have begun work on the calico cat "Lily," I decided it was time to get the oils out as I haven't used them for some months and am feeling a bit rusty.

Lily was the winner of the title "best in show" from a photo cat show held last year to raise funds for our local hospice (St Michael's).

I am donating her portrait as part of the prize, her owner has provided some lovely clear high res photos so I have lots of information to work from and I have chosen to paint her in a domestic setting, sitting on the windowsill, I must admit I am enjoying working with oils again but am frustrated that I have to leave it now for a few days to dry before I can add more layers and "bring her to life"..............this is the painting so far, I'm hoping her owner will like it..........

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

I have been struggling all week to finalise some major updates on my website, it all looks so good on paper and I turned a small corner in that I finally started to understand the coding that is html (need a small flag waving smiley here)

However as with the best of plans my hosting company decided to impliment some changes of their own and have well and truly thrown a spanner in the works! so for the time being I am having to accept that my website is in total disaray and am saving my updates till the gremlins have left the building.

Meanwhile on the easel I have been working on a pastel portrait of a red Alaskan Malamute he is almost complete now and I have e-mailed this to his owner to see if any changes are needed before I finish it.............this is "Gunner" so far .........................

My website and other places to find me

About Me

I am a British artist working mainly on pet portrait commissions.
I inherited a love of drawing and painting from my Dad who is such a dedicated artist that he re-learned to paint using his left hand after a devastating stroke robbed him of his dominant right!I am passionate about animals of all kinds especially dogs and cats and they appear in most of my work somewhere.
My only formal training consisted of an Art foundation studies course at the local college during my teens after which painting became a hobby for far too many years!
In 2007 a sudden lack of employment finally pushed me into taking my art more seriously and I now have the luxury of painting on a (almost) daily basis and am at long last trying to earn a crust doing what I love most.